The Provincial Government is continuing to support mineral exploration and growth in the mining industry through Budget 2018 with $1.7 million in support for the Mineral Incentive Program which includes the Junior Exploration Assistance and the Prospectors Assistance Programs.
In 2017-18, the Mineral Incentive Program was a success with 28 grants awarded under the Junior Exploration Assistance Program totalling $1.39 million and 47 grants provided to prospectors under the Prospector Assistance Program totaling $217,618. The Prospector Assistance Program, in conjunction with Mining NL, provided financial support to nine prospectors to travel to mineral conferences for promotion of their properties. Together, Mining NL and the Prospector Assistance Program fund the Matty Mitchell Prospectors Resource Room.
It is estimated that mineral exploration spending in 2017 was $36.7 million and is expected to increase to $38.5 million for 2018. Government initiatives, such as the Mineral Incentive Program, continue to encourage the sustainability of the mining industry by supporting mineral exploration in the province. With a forecast in 2018 of 6,000 people employed in the industry and $3.4 billion in mineral shipments, mining is a major contributor to the Newfoundland and Labrador economy.
This initiative delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
Quotes
“An investment of $1.7 million in the Mineral Incentive Program helps further the work of prospectors and junior mining companies. Their work, supported by province’s Geological Survey, is the foundation for mineral exploration and mining development in Newfoundland and Labrador. Nearly 40,000 claims were staked in 2016 and 2017 which is approximately the total number for the previous four-year period combined.”
Honourable Siobhan Coady
Minister of Natural Resources
“Mining Industry NL strongly supports measures that attract and leverage private investment into the mineral industry. The Mineral Incentive Program positively impacts our members’ prospecting and exploration projects and contributes to their success throughout the province.”
Ed Moriarity
Executive Director of Mining Industry NL
“Prospecting is a crucial part in the early phase of mineral exploration. Most of the present day and historic mines in the province were either directly or indirectly discovered by prospectors. Many prospectors avail of the small prospector assistance grants each year to conduct their field work. These grants go a long way in helping to pay for analyses of rock, soil and stream sediment samples, and to cover other expenses; such as accommodations, fuel and field supplies. Many prospectors would not be as active if it were not for the availability of the prospector assistance grants.”
Norm Mercer
Newfoundland and Labrador Prospectors Association
– 30 –
Learn More
Follow us @GovNL and @NR_GovNL
Media contacts
Nancy Hollett
Natural Resources
709-729-5777, 685-3372
NancyHollett@gov.nl.ca
Jessica Mercer
Membership Services Advisor
709-722-9542
jmercer@miningnl.com
Norm Mercer
Newfoundland and Labrador Prospectors Association
709-740-6000
nmercer@nlprospectors.org
BACKGROUNDER
The following projects and prospectors received grants in 2017-18 through the Mineral Incentive Program, which includes the Junior Exploration Assistance and the Prospectors Assistance Programs.
Junior Exploration Assistance Program
| Company | Project | Grant Paid |
| Canada Fluorspar Inc. | AGS Project | $69,071.91 |
| GTA Resources and Mining Inc. | Burnt Pond Project | $33,958.38 |
| Sokoman Iron Corp. | Central NL Gold Project | $51,801.23 |
| Marathon Gold Corp. | Valentine Lake Project | $70,131.21 |
| Metals Creek Resources Corp. | Clark’s Brook Property | $14,645.54 |
| Paragon Minerals Corp. | South Tally Pond Project | $70,131.21 |
| Adventus Zinc Corp. | Buchans Project | $70,131.21 |
| First Mining Finance Corp. | Ironbound Hill Property | $70,131.21 |
| 1512513 Alberta Ltd. | Main River Project | $14,967.60 |
| Kings Bay Resources Corp. | Lynx Lake Property | $75,185.63 |
| Altius Resources Inc. | Sail Pond Property | $55,823.10 |
| Antler Gold Inc. | Wilding Lake Property | $70,131.21 |
| Puddle Pond Resources Inc. | Heritage Project | $ 27,523.59 |
| New Dawn Resources Inc. | El Manuel Property | $3,295.13 |
| New Found Gold Corp. | Gander Gold Property | $70,131.21 |
| Search Minerals Inc. | Foxtrot Project | $68,772.20 |
| Big Land Exploration Ltd. | Brianna Property | $25,295.75 |
| Maritime Resources Corp. | Green Bay Property | $10,052.70 |
| Champion Iron Ltd. | Powderhorn-Gullbridge Property | $70,131.21 |
| Torq Resources Inc. | Central NL Gold Project | $70,131.21 |
| Anaconda Mining Inc. | Argyle Deposit – Point Rousse Project | $62,045.84 |
| Vulcan Minerals Inc. | Springdale Property | $7,185.54 |
| Quadro Resources Ltd. | Staghorn Project | $44,767.34 |
| Red Moon Resources Inc. | Black Bay Nepheline Property | $17,174.73 |
| Maximos Metals Corp. | Labrador North West Property | $105,196.81 |
| Great Atlantic Resources Corp. | Golden Promise Project | $35,134.12 |
| Ubique Minerals Ltd. | Daniel’s Harbour Property | $15,962.63 |
| 44049 Yukon Inc. | Ashuanipi South Project | $91,090.58 |
| TOTAL | $1,390,000.00 | |
Prospectors Assistance Program
| Prospector | Grant Amount |
| Brian Jones | $5,970.00 |
| Larry Rogers | $6,000.00 |
| Larry Rogers | $1,000.00 |
| Chad Kennedy | $3,844.03 |
| Peter Rogers | $10,520.81 |
| Peter Rogers | $1,184.81 |
| Larry Quinlan | $5,750.91 |
| Jason White | $6,000.00 |
| Wayde Guinchard | $8,023.75 |
| Wayde Guinchard | $4,628.60 |
| Wayde Guinchard | $2,101.80 |
| Mervin Quinlan | $3,091.38 |
| Shawn Rose | $6,000.00 |
| Cameron Martin | $8,800.34 |
| Herb Froude | $6,000.00 |
| Kevin Stagg | $5,934.47 |
| Leonard Skanes | $1,999.62 |
| Roland Quinlan | $6,000.00 |
| Lloyd Pike | $5,034.77 |
| Ron Taylor | $6,000.00 |
| Joseph Walsh | $4,325.06 |
| Calvert Davis | $6,000.00 |
| Mark Stockley | $4,861.52 |
| George Lannon | $5,650.65 |
| Kenneth Lewis | $3,082.98 |
| Darrin Hicks | $5,945.35 |
| Ross Collier | $3,343.30 |
| Stephen Stockley | $6,000.00 |
| Tim Howse | $4,056.00 |
| Roy French | $5,920.00 |
| Clyde Burt | $2,543.81 |
| Ronald Sweetapple | $3,347.80 |
| Alexander Duffitt | $6,000.00 |
| Alexander Duffitt | $913.28 |
| Roland Bryans | $547.01 |
| Everett Burt | $2,116.17 |
| Albert Stone | $5,719.11 |
| Dan Kelly | $3,880.92 |
| Keith Kelloway | $2,420.00 |
| David Hicks | $12,000.00 |
| Greg Pittman | $3,268.91 |
| Gordon Lawrence | $3,340.56 |
| Jeff Brushett | $4,662.66 |
| Robert John Snook | $3,809.40 |
| Colin Kendell | $4,977.78 |
| Trevor Shawn Vardy | $803.29 |
| Barbara D Pike | $4,197.73 |
| TOTAL | $217,618.58 |